Backyard Baseball 1997

Backyard Baseball 1997 is a baseball game built around a group of fictional neighborhood children rather than professional athletes. There is no story campaign with a central protagonist or scripted narrative. Instead, the player creates a team, chooses from 30 Backyard Kids, and competes in individual games or a full league season. Each child has different ratings for batting, running, pitching, and fielding, so team selection has a direct effect on how the lineup performs.

Building a Team

Before starting a season, the player can choose a team name, colors, mascot, batting order, and defensive positions. Characters such as Pablo Sanchez, Pete Wheeler, Angela Delvecchio, and Kenny Kawaguchi have different strengths and weaknesses. Some are strong hitters, others are faster on the bases, and some are better pitchers or fielders. The game includes several backyard fields with different layouts, so positioning and ball placement can change depending on where the match takes place.

Main Modes and Match Structure

Backyard Baseball 1997 includes several ways to play:

• Pick-Up Play for a single match;
• League Play with a complete season;
• Batting Practice for practicing swings;
• 30 selectable Backyard Kids;
• different backyard baseball fields;
• customizable batting orders and field positions;
• power-ups earned through strong plays;
• season statistics and trophies.

League Play contains 14 regular-season games. Teams that perform well enough continue into the playoffs and can eventually compete for the Ultra Grand Championship of the Universe.

Batting, Pitching, and Fielding

During matches, the player controls the main parts of baseball directly. Batting requires choosing the right moment to swing, while pitching involves selecting pitch types and aiming them toward different parts of the strike zone. After the ball is hit, control shifts to the fielders, who need to reach the ball and throw it toward the correct base. Baserunners can advance, stop, or attempt extra bases depending on the situation.

There are no traditional numbered levels or character experience systems. Progress comes from winning games and advancing through the season. Special power-ups can affect batting or pitching during certain situations, adding more variety to otherwise standard baseball rules. Successful play depends on choosing a balanced roster, arranging players in suitable positions, timing swings correctly, and making fast defensive decisions after the ball is put into play.